Hydrangea plant named &#39;BCHY-11.068&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea macrophylla  (Thunb.) named ‘BCHY-11.068’ originated as a controlled cross between varieties. The variety ‘BCHY-11.068’ has attractive inflorescences with sepalous florets with attractive, uniform sepal pigmentation and good commercial characteristics.

Botanical classification: Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) ‘BCHY-11.068’.

Variety denomination: ‘BCHY-11.068’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of the Saxifragaceae family. The botanical name of the plant is Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) ‘BCHY-11.068’.

The new cultivar originated as a seedling from a controlled cross between a variety known to the inventor as ‘BCHY-06.014’ which was the seed parent and the patented variety known as ‘BC8.3’ which was the pollen parent. ‘BCHY-06.014’ was the subject of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/999,982 which was abandoned. ‘BCHY-06.014’ originated as a seedling from a controlled cross between the unpatented variety known as ‘LK49’ which was the seed parent and a commercial variety known as ‘Venedig’ to the inventor which may be the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,928 and registered as ‘Venice Raven’. ‘Venedig’ was the pollen parent of that cross. ‘LK49’ is relatively compact plant with wiry stems, relatively small leaves, relatively small sepalous florets, and inflorescences that are resistant to being damaged by conditions in commercial coolers. ‘BCHY-06.014’ has strong stems, attractive inflorescences, and develops very deep pigmentation when treated with aluminum at commercial levels, and even if treated with only a relatively small amount of aluminum it develops a uniform and attractive pigmentation. ‘BC8.3’ is the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,507 that issued on May 5, 2015. ‘BC8.3’ originated as a seedling from a controlled cross between the commercial variety known as ‘Nizza’ to the inventor, and a commercial variety known as ‘Messalina’ to the inventor. ‘BC8.3’ has compact, attractive inflorescences with relatively large sepalous florets that ring and almost hide all of the non-sepalous florets in the center of the panicle, attractive sepal pigmentation, grows well under commercial conditions, and stems that branch easily and are relatively strong.

The variety ‘BCHY-11.068’ has sepalous florets with uniform sepal pigmentation at maturity and good commercial characteristics. The color of the sepals changes as the plant ages. Below is a table comparing the new variety to similar varieties.

TABLE 1 Commerical variety ‘Venedig’ which may US be US Plant Plant Patent US Patent Application Plant Patent 10,928 New Variety 13/999,982 25,507 ‘Venice 'BCHY-11.068' ‘BCHY-06.014’ ‘BC8.3’ Raven’ Leaf size 10.5 cm wide × 9 cm wide × 10 cm × 11 cm 14 cm long 13.5 cm long 16 cm wide × 15.5 cm long - source US PP10,928 Plant 15″ in 6″ pot. 18″ in 6″ pot. 15″ in 6″ pot 12″ in 6″ height pot - observed controls grown alongside ‘BC6.1’. Stem Strong Strong Stems are Strong - strength relatively observed strong. controls grown alongside ‘BC6.1’. Sepal Upper sides Treated With Upper side Upper side Pigmen- of sepals are Aluminum - of sepals is of sepals is tation R.H.S. 94 A Mature R.H.S. 73 A R.H.S. (violet - blue inflorescences - (red - purple 84 A (violet group). Under Both sides of group) in group). sides of sepals are center, and Under sepals are R.H.S. margins of side of R.H.S. 96 D 95 B sepals are sepals is (violet - blue (violet - blue R.H.S. 56 A R.H.S. 85 A group). group). (red group). (violet group) observed controls grown alongside ‘BC6.1’. Sepalous 55 mm 60 mm 50 mm to 60 70 mm - Floret mm observed Size - controls Diameter grown alongside ‘BC6.1’.

The new cultivar ‘BCHY-11.068’ has been successfully asexually reproduced under controlled environmental conditions at a nursery in Half Moon Bay, Calif. under the direction of the inventor with its distinguishing characteristics remaining stable.

Asexual reproduction was first accomplished when vegetative cuttings were used from the initially selected plant. Examination of asexually reproduced, successive generations grown in Half Moon Bay, Calif. show that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘BCHY-11.068’ remains firmly fixed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings consist of color photographs that show the typical plant form, including the inflorescence, foliage, and sepals.

FIG. 1 is a view of the entire plant showing its form, growth habit, dark green foliage, inflorescence, and the color of its sepals.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the entire plant showing its form, growth habit, dark green foliage, inflorescence, and the color of its sepals.

FIG. 3 is a view of the base of the plant.

FIG. 4 is a close-up view of the underside of a panicle.

FIG. 5 is a close-up view of the adaxial surface of a mature leaf.

FIG. 6 is a close-up view of the upper side of the inflorescence of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The plant shown is approximately a year old. The plant started out as cuttings, used from the stem of a grown plant. The soil for the plant was periodically treated with aluminum to produce blue pigmentation. The plant was pinched early to promote lateral branches.

‘BCHY-11.068’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, treatment with aluminum and day length. Color determinations were made with The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart, developed in association with the Flower Council of Holland, located in Lieden.

-   The plant:     -   -   Origin.—Controlled cross. The new cultivar originated as a             seedling from a controlled cross between the unpatented             variety known as ‘BCHY-06.014’ which was the seed parent,             and the patented variety ‘BC8.3’ — U.S. Plant Pat. No.             25,507 — which was the pollen parent.         -   Form.—Upright, compact shrub. A typical plant with a mature             inflorescence that is ready for sale is approximately 15″             high and has a diameter of 21″ when grown in a 6″ pot with             appropriate soil amendments.         -   Growth.—Upright, vigorous growth habit. Inflorescence is             large. The plant branches easily with shoots forming at the             base of the plant. Lateral branches are similar in             appearance and form to the main stems.         -   Stems.—Lenticels are present. Lenticels are R.H.S. 86 A             (violet group) and are 1 to 2 mm long. The surface of young             stems is glabrous. Stems become woody as they age. The color             of typical young stems and young lateral branches is R.H.S.             144 A (yellow-green group). The older portions of the stems             are R.H.S. 199 A (grey-brown group). Younger portions of the             stems are 7 mm in diameter. Older portions of the stems are             7 mm in diameter.         -   Foliage.—Abundant. Leaves are opposite on stem and lateral             branches. Shape of leaf. — Elliptic with acute base and             acute apex. Margins are serrate. Texture. — Glabrous; veins             dominate on the underside of the leaf and are sunken on the             upper leaf surface. Color. — Mature leaves have an upper             side that is R.H.S. 136 A (green group), and an under side             that is R.H.S. 137 C (green group). Leaves are pinnately             veined. The midvein and veins branching off the midvein are             large and prominent on the underside of the leaves. Veins             are R.H.S. 145 C (yellow-green group). Leaves are as wide as             10.5 cm and 14 cm long. Petioles are smooth and             approximately 2.5 cm long and 4 mm wide. Petioles are R.H.S.             145 C (yellow-green group). -   Buds:     -   -   Form.—Globose with 4 to 5 connate, elliptic, smooth petals.             Most buds, whether they will mature into sepalous or             non-sepalous florets, have 4 petals. Buds in the center of             the inflorescence are non-sepalous. The majority of buds             will develop into sepalous florets. They are approximately 2             mm by 2 mm when very young. Buds can be 5 mm in diameter and             still unopened. Color of mature buds is R.H.S. 97 A             (violet-blue group).         -   Aspect.—Smooth.         -   Arrangement.—Borne on branched panicles. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Form.—Paniculate. Terminal. As many as 150 individual             florets (both sepalous and non-sepalous) per inflorescence.             Both sepalous florets and non-sepalous florets borne on the             same panicle. Flowers do not produce a fragrance. The             peduncle for the inflorescence is strong and upright. Very             few non-sepalous florets developing early on cymes that are             later hidden by sepalous florets that form at the outside of             the panicle. Florets, both sepalous and non-sepalous, have             anthers and style. Inflorescences are long-lasting.         -   Size of inflorescence.—Compact and globose. Individual             inflorescence size is dependent on the number of florets. A             typical inflorescence can grow as large as 8″ in diameter,             and 4″ high.         -   Shape.—Clusters of numerous small florets; sepalous florets             overlap one another. Sepals are persistent.         -   Appearance.—Showy. -   Florets:     -   -   General.—The non-sepalous florets at the center of the             inflorescence open first. Sepalous and non-sepalous florets             are perfect and complete. Corolla: Generally, for both             sepalous and non-sepalous florets there are 4 petals. Petals             are typically 4 mm long and 3 mm wide. Petals are R.H.S. 97             A (violet-blue group). Lenticels are present on pedicels of             both sepalous and non-sepalous florets, lenticels are no             more than 1 mm. Lenticels are R.H.S. 59 B (red-purple             group). Pedicel length for non-sepalous florets averages             4 mm. Pedicel length of sepalous florets is approximately 40             mm in length for plants of this age. Pedicels of both             sepalous and non-sepalous florets continue to elongate as             the inflorescence ages. Pedicels range from 97 B             (violet-purple group) to R.H.S. 128 D (green group) near             floret when immature.         -   Stamens.—8 to 10 stamens. Anther is regular and basally             attached.         -   Stigma.—Two to three style each, although most florets have             two style. Each style has one stigma.         -   Ovary.—Ovary is partially inferior.         -   Sepalous florets.—General. — Veins dominate on the underside             of the sepals. Number of sepals. — 4 to 5 sepals per floret,             usually 4. Aspect of sepals. — Smooth and glaucescent. Shape             of sepals. — Reniform with acuminate apex. Edges are entire,             but with some crenation. Size of sepals. — As the florets             mature, the sepals enlarge and overlap each other more and             more, until, often, there is no space between the sepals             when the petals of the florets open. Sepals at maturity are             typically 32 mm long and 35 mm wide. Sepalous florets are             typically 55 mm in diameter. The upper sides of the sepals             are R.H.S. 94 A (violet-blue group) and the undersides are             R.H.S. 96 D (violet-group). Pigmentation develops at the             tips of the sepals and travels inward towards base of the             sepals.         -   Fruit.—none.         -   Disease and pest resistance.—unknown. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea macrophylla plant named ‘BCHY-11.068’ substantially as herein illustrated and described. 